Public Spaces

Millions of people use public and semi-public areas such as buses, trains and airports to read, study and to improve themselves. But two new technologies produce noise in these places, making it much harder read or concentrate. Widespread use of cellular phones now makes it impossible to read in many public and semi-public settings. And corporations are deployingtamper-proof TV sets where one is compelled to watch and listen to them, including airports, buses, and other mass transit.

As time to read and reflect becomes increasingly rare and precious, Commercial Alert will defend reading space against these technologies and the corporations that promote them.

More Information

News Releases

Commercial Alert Asks Bush To Defend Reading on the Bus and Train from Noisy TVs
Gary Ruskin | April 16th, 2001

Related Articles and Links

Related Articles

Waterfront Toronto Considers Selling Naming Rights to Public Parks, Spaces
The Canadian Press | April 6th, 2008

NY Public Library 'Trades Naming Rights' to Greedy Hedge Fund Billionaire for Big Bucks
David Morris | AlterNet | March 24th, 2008

City of Miami Putting 'For Sale' Sign on Names of City Parks
Risa Polansky | Miami Today | March 22nd, 2008

Court: Cities Can Ban Electronic Signs
Associated Press | November 9th, 2007

Visual Pollution
The Economist | October 11th, 2007

The Ad Blitzers' Facade
Tom Robbins | Village Voice | October 10th, 2007

Nude Dancer Greets Air Travelers
Associated Press | June 14th, 2007

What's in a School Name? Maybe Money, Maybe Public Service; Policy's in the Works
Jo Collins Mathis | The Ann Arbor News | June 13th, 2007

Subways Tune in to New Revenue
Larry Copeland | USA Today | April 8th, 2005

Reach Out and Annoy Someone
Jonathan Rowe | Washington Monthly | October 31st, 2004

Commercials on the TVs of 150 Milwaukee County Buses Causing Passenger and Driver Complaints
Marti Mikkelson | May 29th, 2003

Commercials on the TVs of 150 Milwaukee County Buses Causing Passenger and Driver
Bob Edwards | National Public Radio (NPR) | May 29th, 2003

Advertisers Seek Out City Buses to Broadcast Their Latest Pitches
Robert Johnson | Wall Street Journal | February 21st, 2001

Letter to Massachusetts Governor Cellucci asking him not to sell the naming rights to subway stations
Ralph Nader | January 23rd, 2001

External Links

Noise Pollution Clearinghouse